Archbold's Nightjar vs Little Nightjar
Eurostopodus archboldi compared with Setopagis parvula
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Archbold's Nightjar | Little Nightjar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eurostopodus archboldi | Setopagis parvula |
| Order | Caprimulgiformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| Family | Caprimulgidae | Caprimulgidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.0 cm (16.1 in) | 26.6 cm (10.5 in) |
| Weight | 77.0 g (2.72 oz) | 35.75 g (1.26 oz) |
| Diet | Aerial insectivore; catches moths and beetles in nocturnal flight over New Guinea montane forest. | Catches small flying insects at night over South American open grassland and dry scrub. |
| Clutch Size | 1 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Archbold's Nightjar
Rarely recorded; presumed churring nocturnal song; low, resonant trilling typical of genus; vocalizations scarcely documented from highland New Guinea
Little Nightjar
Rapid, churring 'churr-churr-churr' repeated monotonously; moderate pitch; calls from open cerrado at night; alarm a sharp 'chek'; small size reflected in lighter tone
Geographic Range & Migration
Archbold's Nightjar
Resident of montane forest in central New Guinea (Snow Mountains and Star Mountains) above 1,500 m; very poorly known.
Little Nightjar
Resident of dry woodland, scrub, and cerrado from Venezuela and the Guianas south through Brazil to Bolivia and northern Argentina.
Conservation Status
Archbold's Nightjar
Little Nightjar
How to Tell Them Apart
Archbold's Nightjar
Brown and dark grey with rufous-buff vermiculations; whitish throat patch; pale buff supercilium contrasts with darker crown; no white wing or tail patches; tail barred; New Guinea highlands; few records.
Little Nightjar
Grey-brown and buff mottled with dark vermiculations; white throat patch in male; white outer tail spots in male; buff throat and tail spots in female; no white wing patches; pale …
About These Birds
Archbold's Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~77 g) known from subalpine grasslands and forest margins in the interior mountains of New Guinea. Named after naturalist Richard Archbold. Cryptic brown-patterned plumage. Nocturnal insectivore. Infrequently observed; biology largely undescribed. Least Concern in its montane range.
Little Nightjar
A small Caprimulgidae nightjar (~36 g) of open woodland, chaco, and savanna in Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and southern Brazil. Pale brown with fine buff vermiculations; white primary patches visible in flight. Calls with a rapid churring trill. Nocturnal insectivore. Common in dry-land habitats; Least Concern.